Abstract
The development of battery electric vehicles (BEV) must continue since this can lead us towards a zero emission transport system. There has been an advent of the production BEVs in recent years; however their low range and high cost still remain the two important drawbacks. The battery is the element which strongly affects the cost and range of the BEV. The batteries offer either high specific power or high specific energy but not both. To provide the BEVs with the characteristic to compete with conventional vehicles it is beneficial to hybridize the energy storage combining a high energy battery with a high power source. This shields the battery from peak currents and improves its capacity and life. There are various devices which could qualify as a secondary storage system for the BEV such as high power battery, supercapacitor and high speed flywheel (FW). This paper aims to review a specific type of hybridisation of energy storage which combines batteries and high speed flywheels. The flywheel has been used as a secondary energy system in BEVs from the early 1970s when the oil crises triggered an interest in BEVs. Since the last decade the interest in flywheels has strengthened and their application in the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) in Formula 1 has further bolstered the case for flywheels. With a number of automotive manufacturers getting involved in developing flywheels for road applications, the authors believe commercial flywheel based powertrains are likely to be seen in the near future. It is hence timely to produce a review of research and development in the area of flywheel assisted BEVs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agarwal, P. D. (1982). Energy utilization of electric and hybrid vehicles and their impact on US national energy consumption. Int. J. Vehicle Design 3, 4, 436–449.
Anerdi, G., Brusaglino, G., Ancarani, A. and Bianchi, R. (1994). Technology potential of flywheel storage and application impact on electric vehicles. Int. Electric Vehicle Symp.
Anon (1955). The Oerlikon Electrogyro. Its Development and Application for Omnibus Service. Automobile Engineer.
Anon (1979). The Garrett Near-term Electric Test Vehicle (ETV-2). US DOE Information Bulletin. No 403–1.
Anon (1980). Flywheel Energy Storage Unit Technology Development Program. California University. Lawrence Livermore Lab. Technical Report. UCRL-15280.
Boulanger, A., Chu, A., Maxx, S. and Waltz, D. (2011). Vehicle electrification: Status and issues. Proc. IEEE 99, 6, 1116–1138.
Braess, H. and Regar, K. (1991). Electrically propelled vehicles at BMW-experience to date and development trends. SAE Paper No. 910245.
Briat, O., Vinassa, J., Lajnef, W. and Azzopardi, S. (2007). Principle, design and experimental validation of a flywheel-battery hybrid source for heavy-duty electric vehicles. IET Electric Power Applications 1, 5, 665–674.
Brockbank, C. and Greenwood, C. (2008). Full-toroidal variable drive transmission systems in mechanical hybrid systems–From formula 1 to road vehicles formula 1. Int. CTI Symp., Innovative Automotive Transmissions, Berlin.
Burrows, C., Price, G. and Perry, F. (1980). An assessment of flywheel energy storage in electric vehicles. SAE Paper No. 800885.
Burrows, C. R. and Barlow, T. M. (1981). Flywheel power system developments for electric vehicle applications. Electric Vehicle Development Group 4 th Int. Conf.: Hybrid, Dual Mode and Tracked Systems, London.
Calvert, W. (1970). Electrical Power System. US Patent 3497026.
Chan, C. C. and Chau, K. T. (2001). Modern Electric Vehicle Technology. Oxford University Press. USA.
Chang, G., Swisher, J. and Pezdirtz, G. (1977). DOE's flywheel program. Flywheel Technology Symp.
Chang, M. (1978). Computer simulation of an advanced electric-powered vehicle. SAE Paper No. 780217.
Chau, K., Wong, Y. and Chan, C. (1999). An overview of energy sources for electric vehicles. Energy Conversion and Management 40, 10, 1021–1039.
Chau, K. T. and Wong, Y. S. (2001). Hybridization of energy sources in electric vehicles. Energy Conversion and Management 42, 9, 1059–1069.
Cornell, E., Turnbull, F. and Barlow, T. (1980). Evaluation of a Hybrid Flywheel/Battery Propulsion System for Electric Vehicles. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Technical Report UCRL-15259.
Dhand, A. and Pullen, K. (2013). Review of flywheel based internal combustion engine hybrid vehicles. Int. J. Automotive Technology 14, 5, 797–804.
Dhand, A. and Pullen, K. (2014). Analysis of continuously variable transmission for flywheel energy storage systems in vehicular application. Proc. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: J. Mechanical Engineering Science, doi: 10.1177/0954406214533096.
Dixon, J. (2010). Energy storage for electric vehicles. IEEE Int. Conf. Industrial Technology.
Ellis, C. (2006). Kinetic Energy Storage System. GB Patent 2405129B.
Flanagan, F. (1990). Evaluation of a flywheel hybrid electric vehicle drive. 25 th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conf.
Fu, X. and Xie, X. (2007). The control strategy of flywheel battery for electric vehicles. IEEE Int. Conf. Control and Automation.
Fu, X. (2010). A novel design for flywheel battery of electric vehicles. Int. Conf. Intelligent System Design and Engineering Application.
Hayes, R., Kajs, J., Thompson, R. and Beno, J. (1999). Design and testing of a flywheel battery for a transit bus. SAE Paper No. 1999-01-1159.
Kugler, G. (1973). Electric vehicle hybrid powertrain. SAE Paper No. 730254.
Kumm, E. (1980). Design Study of Flat Belt CVT for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/0114-80/1.
Larminie, J. and Lowry, J. (2003). Electric Vehicle Technology Explained. John Wiley & Sons. UK.
Locker, D. and Miller, M. L. (1976). Flywheel electric vehicle. 4 th Int. Electric Vehicle Symp., Dusseldorf.
Loewenthal, S. (1980). Advanced Continuously Variable Transmissions for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/51044-17.
Lundin, J. (2011). Flywheel in an All-electric Propulsion System. Licentiate Thesis. Uppsala University.
Lustenader, E., Guess, R., Richter, E. and Turnbull, F. (1977). Development of a hybrid flywheel/battery drive system for electric vehicle applications. IEEE Trans. Vehicular Technology 26, 2, 135–143.
Maeder, K. (2005). Continuously variable transmission: Benchmark, status and potentials. 4 th Int. CTI Symp., Berlin.
McCoin, D. K. and Walker, R. D. (1980). Design Study of Continuously Variable Roller Cone Traction CVT for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/0115-80/1.
Mellor, P., Schofield, N. and Howe, D. (2000). Flywheel and supercapacitor peak power buffer technologies. IEE Seminar on Electric, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles.
Moosavi-Rad, H. and Ullman, D. G. (1990). A band variableinertia flywheel integrated-urban transit bus performance. SAE Paper No. 902280.
Notti, J. E. (1975). Flywheel systems applications. Flywheel Technology Symp.
O’Connell, L., Cooper, J., Miller, A. and Newkirk, H. (1977). Utilization of Flywheels for the Evolution of High Performance Electric Vehicles. Technical Report UCRL-52346.
Palti, Y. (2010). Electro-mechanical Battery. US Patent 2010/0282528 A1.
Parker, R., Loewenthal, S. and Fischer, G. (1981). Design Studies of Continuously Variable Transmissions for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/1044-12.
Post, R. (1996). A new look at an old idea–The electromechanical battery. Science and Technology Review, 12–20.
Price, G. (1980). An Assessment of Flywheel Energy Storage for Electric Vehicle. Ph. D. Dissertation. University of Sussex.
Raynard, A. (1978). Advanced flywheel energy storage unit for a high power energy source for vehicular use. Mechanical and Magnetic Energy Storage Contractors' Review Meeting.
Raynard, A. E. and Forbes, F. E. (1979). Advanced Electric Propulsion System Concept for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report, DOE/NASA/0081-79/1.
Raynard, A., Kraus, J. and Bell, D. (1980). Design Study of Toroidal Traction CVT for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/0117-80/1.
Rowlett, B. (1980). Flywheel Drive System Having a Split Electromechanical Transmission. US Patent 4233858.
Saitoh, T., Ando, D. and Kurata, K. (1999). A grand design of future electric vehicle with fuel economy more than 100 km / liter. SAE Paper No. 1999-01-2711.
Saitoh, T., Yoshimura, A. and Yamada, N. (2002). An evaluation of future energy conversion systems including fuel cell. Trans. Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Part B 68, 665, 201–208.
Saitoh, T., Ogasawara, H. and Yamada, N. (2004). Study of flywheel energy storage system and application to electric vehicle. Trans. Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Part B 70, 697, 2482–2489.
Saitoh, T., Yamada, N., Ando, D. and Kurata, K. (2005). A grand design of future electric vehicle to reduce urban warming and CO2 emissions in urban area. Renewable Energy 30, 12, 1847–1860.
Satchwell, D. (1977). An advanced energy storage unit for a US postal service delivery vehicle. Flywheel Technology Symp.
Schaible, U. and Szabados, B. (1994). A torque controlled high speed flywheel energy storage system for peak power transfer in electric vehicles. IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting.
Schwartz, M. (1979). Energy Storage Systems for Automobile Propulsion: 1979 study, Volume 3, Battery/ flywheel Electric Vehicles Using Advanced Batteries. Lawrence Livermore Lab. Technical Report UCRL-52841.
Schwarz, R. (1977). Four passenger electric vehicle design. 4 th Int. Symp. Automotive Propulsion Systems.
Secunde, R., Schuh, R. and Beach, R. (1983). Electric Vehicle Propulsion Alternatives. Technical Report DOE/NASA/51044-33.
Simon, B. (2010) Hybrid Assembly, a Hybrid Powertrain and a Method for Operating a Selectively Movable Assembly. US Patent 2010/0304920 A1.
Stavropoulou, K. (1981). Simulacao em Computador de um Veiculo Hibrido com Armazenamento de Energia em Volante. (In Portuguese). M. S. Thesis. University of Campinas.
Su, H. and Liu, T. (2010). Design and Analysis of Hybrid Power Systems with Variable Inertia Flywheel. EVS25.
Swain, J., Klausing, T. and Wilcox, J. (1980). Design Study of Steel V-belt CVT for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/0116-80/1.
Szumanowski, A. and Brusaglino, G. (1992). Analysis of the hybrid drive consisted of electrochemical battery and flywheel. 11 th Int. Electric Vehicle Symp.
Thoolen, F. (1993). Development of an Advanced High Speed Flywheel Energy Storage System. Ph. D. Dissertation. Technical University Eindhoven.
Van de Ven, J. (2009). Fluidic variable inertia flywheel. Int. Energy Conversion Engineering Conf.
Vazquez, S., Lukic, S., Galvan, E. and Franquelo, L. (2010). Energy storage systems for transport and grid applications. IEEE Trans. Industrial Electronics 57, 12, 3881–3895.
Whitelaw, R. (1972). Two new weapons against automotive air pollution: the hydrostatic drive and the flywheel-electric LDV. ASME Paper 72-WA/APC-5.
Wilson, J. (1980). The drive system of the DOE near-term electric vehicle (ETV-1). SAE Paper No. 800058.
Younger, F. and Lackner, H. (1979). Study of Advanced Electric Propulsion Systems Concept Using Flywheel for Electric Vehicles. Technical Report DOE/NASA/0078-79/1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dhand, A., Pullen, K. Review of battery electric vehicle propulsion systems incorporating flywheel energy storage. Int.J Automot. Technol. 16, 487–500 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-015-0051-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-015-0051-0